U.S. patent application number 10/530863 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-04 for tubular container comprising tamper-proof lid.
This patent application is currently assigned to Tuboplast Hispania, S.A.. Invention is credited to Antonio Aguirrezabal Oroz.
Application Number | 20060091101 10/530863 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32088155 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060091101 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aguirrezabal Oroz; Antonio |
May 4, 2006 |
Tubular container comprising tamper-proof lid
Abstract
A tubular container with a tamper-proof device (19) between the
tube (1) and cap (2) and an assembly (14, 15) that creates a sound
signal between both, in which the blind projection (24) on the tube
is made in a smaller diametrical and longitudinal dimension and
with the incorporation of an insert (13) that facilitates the
manufacture and also the use of the container by the user.
Inventors: |
Aguirrezabal Oroz; Antonio;
(Vitoria, ES) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.;624 NINTH STREET, NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-5303
US
|
Assignee: |
Tuboplast Hispania, S.A.
Vial Acceso al Parque Tenologico
Minao Barren
ES
E-01510
|
Family ID: |
32088155 |
Appl. No.: |
10/530863 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2002 |
PCT Filed: |
October 10, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/ES02/00477 |
371 Date: |
November 29, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/330 ;
215/321; 215/44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/242 20130101;
B65D 51/248 20130101; B65D 41/0471 20130101; B65D 2251/01
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/330 ;
215/321; 215/044 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/16 20060101
B65D041/16; B65D 41/04 20060101 B65D041/04 |
Claims
1.--Tubular container with a tamper-proof device, with a tube (1)
and a holed cap (2) in the centre of its outer top surface (5), in
which the tube has a screw threaded neck (9) on which a screw
threaded skirt (10) of the cap is fitted, while in the interior of
the screw threaded neck (9) there is a horizontal wall (17)
provided with holes (16) so that the product can pass from the
inside of the tube towards the outlet (24) in the cap. From the
said wall, a blind hollow projection (4) protrudes and is capable
of closing in the said outlet. The cap also has an inner skirt (19)
which fits to the internal surface of the screw threaded neck of
the tube. All this is characterised by: a solid projection (12)
that stands out from the wall (17) of the interior of the screw
threaded neck (9) of the tube, which is small in diameter and whose
height is interrupted below the outer top surface (5) of the cap, a
hollow insert (13) open at one end, on which an annular outer ledge
(20) is situated, by means of which it is seated on the wall (17)
of the interior of the neck (19), a, interior cavity (22) to
receive the solid projection (12) and an upper end finishing off in
a spherical area (25) that protrudes through the hole in the top
surface (5) of the cap, at least one annular ledge (23) made on the
inner side of the screw threaded neck (9) against which the inner
skirt (19) of the cap is supported and adjusts, a flexible tongue
(15) made in the interior of the cap (2), which makes contact and
flexes, during the turning of the cap, with a rigid ledge (14) made
on the tube.
2.--Tubular container with a tamper-proof device, in accordance
with claim 1, characterised in that the blind projection (12) that
protrudes out from the inner wall (17) of the interior of the neck
(9) is at least partially provided with some longitudinal
ledges.
3.--Tubular container with a tamper-proof device, in accordance
with claim 1, characterised in that the insert (13) is slightly
tapered in shape, both in its interior and exterior, and on the
exterior it has a trunco-conical area (21), below the spherical end
(25), to fit into the hole (24), also trunco-conical, in the top
surface of the cap.
4.--Tubular container with a tamper-proof device, in accordance
with claim 1, characterised in that the annular ledge (23) is made
on the external side of the inner skirt (19) of the cap.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a tubular container with a
tamper-proof cap, based on a container tube and a cap, on which the
tube has an externally screw threaded hollow neck, onto which an
internally screw threaded cylindrical portion of the cap fits.
[0002] In the interior of its hollow neck, the tube is provided
with a portion of wall provide with holes to allow material to pass
through, from the base of which and extending towards the exterior
is a blind projection that continues to the open cavity in the
central top surface of the cap, giving it access to the exterior so
that the product contained in the tube can be applied or taken.
[0003] The cap has an outer skirt that closes over the tube, as
well as an inner skirt which adjusts tightly against the internal
wall of the screw threaded neck of the tube so as to make it
leakproof and prevent the undesired exit of the product between
both.
[0004] In the same way, the cap and tube are provided with the
corresponding means to witness that the assembly is tamper-proof,
as described in EP-A-0 410 922 belonging to the same applicant.
[0005] In equal conditions, and as suggested in EP-A-0 520 118,
also belonging to the same applicant, the tube and cap have the
corresponding means, a flexible projection on the tube and a rigid
internal projection on the cap, which make contact when the cap is
turned in one direction or the other, so that a characteristic
noise is emitted.
[0006] In tubular containers of this kind, the blind projection
that comes from the tube and adjust to the hole in the top surface
of the cap is hollow and of a considerable diameter, and its free
end is flat or slightly outwardly concave so that it can adjust to
the usually concave shape of the said top surface of the cap.
[0007] The excessive diametrical dimension of the protuberance that
forms the blind projection makes it necessary to use ingates of the
appropriate dimensions in the injection process for this part and,
as a result, prolonged cooling times which, in short, make both the
procedure and the product more expensive.
[0008] Moreover, once the cooling period has passed, it is
necessary to proceed and cut the free end of the blind projection
created, which, in addition to meaning another operation, also
includes the possibility of burrs appearing on the said
projection.
[0009] As the result of all this, when the tube and cap unit is
fully assembled, it is awkward to a certain extent for the user to
use the product that comes out of the top surface of the cap.
[0010] A second disadvantage that also often occurs in practice is
the lack of leak tightness between the surfaces of the inner skirt
and the also internal surface of the neck of the tube, which, as
they are flat, do not totally ensure that the product contained in
the tube does not leak through this space accidentally.
[0011] On the other hand, in the said tubular containers, the sound
warning between the cap and the tube is subject to certain
limitations as regards intensity, due to the fact that the part
that flexes is part of the tube itself, which on occasions leads to
the limited generation of a sound signal.
[0012] The object of the invention is to provide a tubular
container that eliminates these disadvantages.
[0013] More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide
a tubular container that increases performance by reducing the
cooling times in the industrial process used in its
manufacture.
[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide a tubular
container from which the product reaches the exterior more easily
and is more suitable for the user to use because it does not have
burrs and, at the same time, favours the outward concavity of the
top surface of the cap.
[0015] Another object of the invention is to provide a tubular
container with a greater degree of leak tightness between the neck
of the cap and its inner skirt.
[0016] And finally, another object of the invention is to provide a
tubular container that obtains an increase in the strength of the
sound signal emitted by it when the cap is turned in one direction
or the other.
[0017] In order to put these objectives into practice, a blind
projection is designed with a small diametrical dimension, for
which ingates of smaller sizes are used, thus reducing cooling
times in the injection process. The blind projection obtained in
this manner does not require the adapting operation at its free
end, since its length is less than that of the corresponding
conventional part.
[0018] Over this blind projection, an open insert is placed, open
at its lower end and closed at its other end, which has a spherical
surface towards the exterior. The lower open end is provided with a
circular lip, by means of which a seating is carried out on the
holed wall of the internal base of the neck of the cap.
[0019] Preferably, at least one portion of the blind projection of
the cap is provided with a longitudinal striation, by means of
which a suitable seating is provided for the said insert on the
said projection.
[0020] The insert is generally tapered in shape, although with a
very slight taper, both in its interior and its exterior, and just
below its upper spherical end, a trunco-conical chamfered area can
be appreciated, on which the central cavity in the top surface of
the is seated. The previously mentioned spherical end protrudes out
to the exterior and has a better feel for users, who can apply
their fingers in order to obtain the product contained in the
tube.
[0021] The second objective of the invention is achieved by making
at least one circular projection on the internal wall of the screw
threaded neck of the cap in such a way that it ensures the
continuous exacting contact that prevents any possibility of leaks
in this area.
[0022] The third objective of the invention is achieved by altering
the position of the flexible projection from the conventional
position on the tube to its final position on the cap.
[0023] At the same time, the contact projection is transferred,
from having been situated previously on the cap, to the tube, so
that in this position the said projection will receive the action
of the flexible projection now placed on the cap.
[0024] Given that the cap is hollow, the flexing of the projection
with which it is now provided becomes louder in the opening and
closing positions of the container, making it consequently more
perceptible to the user.
[0025] These and other details of the invention can be appreciated
in greater detail by referring to the accompanying sheets of
drawings which are enclosed by way of example, in which the
following are represented.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a cross-section elevation of a conventional
container provided with a tube and cap.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section elevation of a container in
accordance with the invention.
[0028] FIG. 3 is another cross-section elevation of the container
shown in FIG. 2.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a cross-section elevation of the insert in
accordance with the invention.
[0030] FIG. 5 represents a detail of the leaktight connection
between the tube and the cap.
[0031] According to FIG. 1, we appreciate a container provided with
a tube (1) and a cap (2). The tube (1) includes the externally
screw threaded neck (9) onto which the screw threaded portion of
the inner skirt (10) is attached, as well as the outer skirt (11),
both on the cap (2). Another third skirt (19) is housed by pressure
in the interior of the neck (9), and it is this adjustment that
might give rise to unwanted leaks of the product that moves to this
position from the tube (1), through the holes (16) in the wall (17)
in the interior of the neck.
[0032] Over the upper tapered portion of the tube (1) it is
possible to see the flexible projection (7) with which the portion
(8) of the cap (2) makes contact.
[0033] In the central part we can point out the blind projection or
protuberance and the cavity (4) of a certain diametrical dimension,
whose upper end (4) is cut to adapt to the concavity of the top
surface (3) of the cap. It can be appreciated here how the
concavity of this top surface (3) of the cap is very limited as a
result of the flat surface (4) of the end of the central
projection, which reduces the range of several concavities that a
specific container might have.
[0034] In the same FIG. 1, logically because it would be in another
view, the tamper-proof stop area of the cap suggested by EP-A-0 410
922 and EP-A-0 520 118 has not been shown.
[0035] In accordance with FIG. 2, we now appreciate the
configuration of the blind projection (12) according to the
invention, which is solid and is provided with some longitudinal
notches in order to receive the insert (13). The height of the
solid projection (12) is less than that of a conventional one and
is complemented to the necessary amount by the said insert until it
teaches the cavity in the cap.
[0036] Due to the end of the insert (13) being spherical, the user
always finds an area which is pleasant to touch and also makes it
possible to provide the top surface of the cap with the concavity
desired. In this respect, the difference of these concavities can
be appreciated between the conventional container in FIG. 1 and
those carried out in accordance with the invention, shown in FIGS.
2 and 3.
[0037] In the same FIG. 2, we can point out the position of the
fixed ledge (14) of the tube (1) and how, from the interior of the
cap (2), the flexible tongue (15) is responsible for flexing on the
said ledge (14) so as to more effectively make a sound.
[0038] Although not very noticeable in this FIG. 2, we point out
the position (18) in which the internal side of the neck (9) of the
cap is provided with an annular ledge for leak tightness.
[0039] The detail of the tamper-proof area that the cap is provided
with, in accordance with the above technique, is defined in the
view of FIG. 3 at position (19), at which the positioning of the
combined auxiliary elements of the tube and of the cap is carried
out.
[0040] The configuration of the insert (13) of the invention, FIG.
4, is shown here in greater detail. This is slightly tapered, with
its open lower base on which the circular outer ledge (20) can be
appreciated, so that it can be seated in the holed wall (17) in the
interior of the tube neck. The solid blind projection (12) is
received in its hollow interior (22) and its upper end is shaped
with an upper portion (25), which is the part the user can touch,
below which is the trunco-conical portion (21) to be seated in the
hole (24), also trunco-conical, made in the thickness of the top
surface of the cap.
[0041] In FIG. 5, we can point out the detail of the internal wall
of the neck (9) of the tube (1), on which the annular ledge (23) is
located, on which the inner skirt (19) of the cap (2) is supported,
in order to totally ensure the leak tightness between both in any
position that the cap might occupy.
[0042] As stated previously, a single annular ledge (23) has been
represented here, although it must be understood that there might
be two or even more of these ledges, arranged on the internal
surface of the neck (9) at positions that practice advises.
[0043] Obviously, the annular ledge or ledges (23), although
preferably made on the neck (9) of the tube (1), can instead be
made on the inner skirt (19) of the cap (2), which is recorded here
for the appropriate purposes.
* * * * *